It's been winding me up for some time now, championship games starting on a Monday or Tuesday with no chance of any days over a weekend!!! Wednesday's are bad enough, with a possibility of going through to the Saturday!!This weeks really do take the biscuit though. So close to the end of the season, a big local derby, a county in trouble financially and a county about to win the championship (for the 7th time) Surely a game scheduled Thursday through to Sunday makes alot more sense!!! I know it would hurt Worcester to have the ground overrun with bears, but would help them out financially!!!

Anyway, the point is, this has been going on for a few years now, championship games not covering any days of the weekend, when the only people who can go are the retired, unemployed, unemployable (I know a few of these!!) kids during school holidays and postmen!!!!

It's been winding me up for some time now, championship games starting on a Monday or Tuesday with no chance of any days over a weekend!!! Wednesday's are bad enough, with a possibility of going through to the Saturday!!Anyway, the point is, this has been going on for a few years now, championship games not covering any days of the weekend, when the only people who can go are the retired, unemployed, unemployable (I know a few of these!!) kids during school holidays and postmen!!!!

[/rant]

True, it's time the ECB and clubs decided what they want from the premier domestic competition. Shame they don't play them something like Thurs - Sunday. I suppose clubs make more money from the 1 day stuff and the ECB don't really care as centrally contracted players rarely play in the CC anyway. I'll be taking a day off so I can attend a all too rare visit for a CC game to see my team Gloucestershire. If I've read it right, you're a Bears fan ... titles yours to lose.

I certainly am, despite being from Redditch (and proud of it) i've always been a bear!!! I really don't want to speak too soon, but this one's in the bag i've been holding back all season to post about Warwick winning the championship (after boldly predicting them to win it last year, when at the time it looked crazy, but in the end they came so close!!!) and with a matter of a day or 2 to go, I couldn't hold back anymore

Quick question for Lancashire fans. What's happened? Is it an Old Trafford thing?

I won't mention Gloucestershire (I suppose I just did ) Not been the same since Adshead left

The strange thing I've noticed is that when CC games are held over the weekend, crowds tend to be smaller. I suppose it's because at weekends the mixture of retired people and shift workers who watch first class cricket are spending their time with friends and family instead.

I certainly am, despite being from Redditch (and proud of it) i've always been a bear!!! I really don't want to speak too soon, but this one's in the bag i've been holding back all season to post about Warwick winning the championship (after boldly predicting them to win it last year, when at the time it looked crazy, but in the end they came so close!!!) and with a matter of a day or 2 to go, I couldn't hold back anymore

Quick question for Lancashire fans. What's happened? Is it an Old Trafford thing?

I won't mention Gloucestershire (I suppose I just did ) Not been the same since Adshead left

Congratulations on winning the Championship. Had a great days cricket yesterday at Bristol with the win over Northants wrapped up today. Dare to dream about not finishing bottom!

I would have attempted to answer the Lancs question, but I did'nt understand it, well not the way it was put. As long as City do'nt follow their trend I can live with it.

Andy, I'm guessing the question was to do with the ground. Last season I believe Lancs played the majority of games away from Old Trafford - Liverpool for instance whereas this season you played at OT and the pitch has been questioned.

The strange thing I've noticed is that when CC games are held over the weekend, crowds tend to be smaller. I suppose it's because at weekends the mixture of retired people and shift workers who watch first class cricket are spending their time with friends and family instead.

It could be, that like me, many cricket people are involved with their local club at the weekend, either playing or generally helping out, so attending, especially on a Saturday is not possible. I gave up my County membership years ago for this reason ...

I would have attempted to answer the Lancs question, but I did'nt understand it, well not the way it was put. As long as City do'nt follow their trend I can live with it.

Andy, I'm guessing the question was to do with the ground. Last season I believe Lancs played the majority of games away from Old Trafford - Liverpool for instance whereas this season you played at OT and the pitch has been questioned.

However, could be wrong

Think you're right Darren, re-read it and thats probably it.In my humble, it was more to do with the mindset at Aigburth. With decent crowds, a lot more than at OT, we were always being encouraged to have a real go. Even at Southport, where we got beat we had a go even with the odds firmly against us. This season we have reverted to our rudderless approach, eg our defeat in Holland from something like 199-2 after 30 overs (I know that was 40 overs but you get my drift).Over a season the league does'nt lie, thus our relegation.Worst part ... text from Sicknote referring to ships that pass in the night, Yokshur git.

I was just referring to the fact that you play one season away from Old Trafford and win the championship for the first time in a very long time, you go back to Old Trafford and then you get relegated, do you think it has anything to do with that fact?? Which you've answered now Anyway, don't worry, aren't you at Liverpool this week

At first I found Harvey's post about lower crowds at weekends hard to believe, but can't argue with Maidenovers response, as that was me back in the day!!!

Now the next rant, out grounds, seem to be becoming a thing of the past!! There's still the odd one that enjoys an annual festival like Scarborough and Cheltenham, but compared to years ago they're now few and far between!!! I always thought these games attracted bigger crowds (as per Liverpool) and created more local interest, I have no idea on the facts about crowds, just my thoughts!!! In a time where cricket is now competing with many other leisure activities, I think someone really needs to look at how we're going to compete, and by that I mean do more and come up with more ideas than sending a survey out that was totally biased and geared towards people saying they would rather watch twenty20 than championship cricket!!!